Kovishik did not immediately grasp the meaning of Hesta's final words, but he looked at her with solemn respect.
"...You're going to reclaim wasteland?"
"You could put it that way."
"How many times have I said it? This is completely unrealistic," Stella said with a smile. "Jane, even if you came up with a thorough plan, very few people would be willing to support you in this. None of District 12's wealthy people like risk, and none of them can understand a conviction like yours—Duke! Hurry and talk our Inspector out of it. She must be completely mad to want to do something like this—"
"How much funding do you need?"
A moment of silence.
Kovishik looked at Hesta and watched her slowly turn her head... Suddenly, he realized that for a long time to come, he would keep recalling this very moment.
A smile slowly appeared on Hesta's face.
"You're willing to help me?"
"...Of course." Kovishik swallowed. "Because I understand you."
Hesta looked past Kovishik toward Stella. "Do you have anything else to say now?"
"Duke, don't get carried away and make wild promises here. Buying land and farming over there requires building an armed force. That won't come cheap. If you think you can just toss out a few tens of millions of Robbie and satisfy our Inspector, then you've got the wrong idea."
Kovishik briefly came to his senses—tens of millions of Robbie still would not be enough?
"Stop comparing Kovishik to those pedantic nobles," Hesta said, her voice carrying unmistakable amusement. "Didn't you hear what he just said? He isn't helping me because he can't see the risks involved, or because he wants to make a show of casually throwing money around—he's joining me because he identifies with my beliefs. He 'understands' me."
Hesta's voice